"Information
competency is the ability to find, evaluate,
use and communicate information
in all its various formats. It combines aspects
of library literacy, research methods and
technological literacy. Information competency
includes consideration of the ethical and
legal implications of information and requires
the application of both critical thinking
and communication skills." (Adopted
by ASCCC, Spring 1998)
Background
In
Fall 1996, the Academic Senate for California
Community Colleges (ASCCC) passed Resolution
16.2.0 recognizing that information
competency skills are integral to student
achievement and success.
Following in January 2000, the Association
of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
published Information
Literacy Competency Standards for Higher
Education. VVC library subsequently
adopted the key competencies outlined
in the ACRL Standards
as the core of
the Department's
Information Competency
(IC) program. The competencies include:
Determine
the nature and extent of information
needed and identify a variety of types
and formats of potential sources of
information.
Utilize
research tools such as online catalogs,
databases, printed indexes, reference
sources, and/or the Internet to effectively
locate and retrieve information resources.
Analyze
and evaluate information for criteria
of credibility, relevancy, authority,
currency,
and point of view or bias.
Organize
and clearly communicate information
for a specific purpose
and in accordance with legal and academic
standards.
Beginning Spring 2008, information
competency became a required general education
learning outcome for all students
receiving an associate degree
at VVC.
Information
Competency @ VVC
The
information competency program at VVC
is embedded in the curriculum for
English 101, which is also required
for the
associate degree. All students enrolled
in English
101 are required to complete a 45-minute
library instruction session taught
by a librarian and a hands-on workbook
that students must complete in the library.
The
IC outcomes are accomplished through
the
combination
of the library orientation, workbook--designed
to teach and strengthen research
and
information competency skills--
and the English 101 curriculum. Students
who have completed English 101 or equivalent
at another institution should contact
the library to fulfill the IC graduation
requirement prior to applying for graduation.
Information
competency is also addressed on a secondary
level through course specific library
instruction sessions as well as instructional
pages on the library’s website
designed to reinforce IC outcomes. Faculty
from across the curriculum can schedule
instruction sessions that target objectives
for research assignments or introduce
library services and resources.
Librarians create and distribute resource
guides aimed at integrating IC skills
into
specific class outcomes for each
session. In addition to instruction
sessions, librarians continuously encourage
students to develop IC skills while
assisting them one-on-one at the Reference
Desk.
